Violence occurring in schools is a growing concern among both students and parents—a nightmare creeping over this country.

In today’s society it is far too common for phones to flash with a notification describing some form of violence occurring on school grounds. These acts raise questions on what preemptive measures our learning institutions should take to ensure its students’ safety.

At Shippensburg University, the necessary actions are being taken to prevent such hazards.

The department of public safety, or “the campus police,” exists at Shippensburg University for the sole task of providing the safest possible living and learning environment for its students.

Chief Cytha Grissom, director of the department of public safety, described the duties carried out by the task force to deter crime. “We patrol. We answer calls. We enforce the vehicle codes and crimes codes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Grissom said. “We’re a very community-oriented police department.”

The constant patrolling of campus territory acts as a strategy to prevent—rather than disrupt any potential hazardous situation.

“The goal is that we’d really like to be proactive rather than reactive,” Grissom said. “We patrol in cars, [by] foot, bicycles—and when our officer is on a bike it gives him a lot closer eyes-on view. [Patrolling on bikes] makes it better for communicating, relaying and accessibility to students.”

In case of a potentially fatal situation, such as an active shooter—Grissom mentioned her unit’s readiness to handle any call.

“The officers are trained in an active-shooter response. We have a policy and procedure we would follow with an active shooter,” Grissom said.

Grissom declined to share how her unit would respond to an on-campus shooting, for security reasons.

While the campus police take preemptive measure to prevent acts of violence, if one of these acts were to happen, students—as well as faculty, would be immediately notified of the situation.

Professor Karl Lorenz, an anthropology professor, said the campus faculty is given instructions on how to handle an on-campus emergency.

“It shows up on my computer screen if there’s any kind of emergency,” Lorenz said, “and at that point I’m instructed to lock the doors and protect the students if I know what the threat is.”

It is a nightmare to wonder whether your school will be the next host of an act of violence, but the department of public safety and campus faculty of SU are dedicated to take every precaution to ensure its students safety.

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